But That One is Better…Doubting Your Own Work

So you’ve found the perfect pattern, you’ve found the perfect yarn. You have done your swatch and all is right with the world. Off you go, obeying all the instructions, counting stitches and counting rows. It looks kind of right, maybe a bit wobbly, but you are doing it by the pattern so all will be good in the end.
Still looking a bit awkward – but like a trooper you soldier on. Now you might need to “block it” before or after assembly – read the pattern. Search the internet on blocking. How hard can that be?

Item assembled, blocked, sun dried and attached eyes, buttons, flowers. Now the moment of truth, hold it next to the picture on the pattern. Well, obviously the pattern instructions were not for the picture were they? Unfortunately they are the correct instructions.

The next step is to run to family and friends explaining how you are a failure – they ARE NOT listing to you blubbering because they are too busy telling you how amazingly talented you are and that they want one – two in fact.

It is amazing how critical we are of our own work. If somebody else made it we would think it was great so why do we doubt ourselves? Look again – It is what the picture promised. If per chance it is not exactly what is on the picture (but it probably is) remember that it was most likely made by the designer, a person who many have had many attempts at it. The camera man is a professional and can do magic with anything that may not be quite ‘right’. If you are new to crochet or a seasoned member of the hooker club and you have done your best then guess what folks – It is the best. You are the best. Love and blood, sweat and tears (well maybe not actual blood, sweat and tears) went into that over-sized pink and purple goldfish and whoever you give it to is going to see only the wonder of it.

Have confidence – all is good. Let’s just assume there is a mistake (and there isn’t) then firstly you are the only person on the planet that can see it, and second, it makes it unique – a one off article and we all know that ‘one off’ items sell for more.

………… So – go and find that pattern for the over-sized gold fish with googly eyes and puffy lips and make it with pride.

Veronica is 44 years young. She has a hubby, 2 daughters, 2 goats, 2 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, several fish – and 7.5 acres backing on to a state forest in semi-rural Queensland Australia to house them all! Feel free to learn more about Veronica by visiting her blog.

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on Saturday, February 5th, 2011 at 11:40 AM by A Guest Writer and is filed under Fun Ramblings.
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Thank you so much for this thought. I have only once (so far) been even reasonably happy with the outcome of my crochet work (and even that was a re-vamp on what I originally planned!). The rest… not so much. I keep trying, figuring that’s the only way I’ll ever get those smooth, even stitches with no transition (or ending) issues( bumps and blogs). Thats what I keep telling myself anyway… thanks for the reminder not to be so hard on myself.

After reading this, I realize that it could be about me! Why is it that we self-depricate our work? I did this recently at a craft show. I was oh so confident about my table, until I saw the other crocheted works for sale. But at the same time, they probably did the same thing. Thanks for the article, it was an eye opener, now I know that I’m not alone!

Oh so true!!! I question myself after I’ve finished an item and then I remember that if I did make a mistake the only other person who might notice it is another hooker and that’s a big Maybe! Most times you don’t even notice the mistakes 🙂 which of course there aren’t any 😉

Very true, Veronica. I found this out through my music playing. I’ve learned, “Don’t be SO HARD on yourself!” You’re the only one who can really hear that that note was out of tune, or with crocheting you just made a slight mistake. I’ve made many things and have learned to avoid pulling all my hard work out for just a little mistake that is barely visible. It’s still hard to do but it is nice to know when you get past that feeling of “doubting your own work” to where you can just crochet. Not that I’m a slackwad or anything but sometimes you just have to pass over those “little” mistakes.

When I started hooking I would have terrible issues with my gauge! Waaaaay too tight, so things were always turning out in “miniature.” For instance, I was making what was supposed to be a nice floppy, slouchy hat for myself … which turned out to be so small that it only fit my 4 yr old daughter! I’m a bit better now about sizing up with my hooks and loosening up on tension, but you just gotta love those “one off” pieces. 🙂 And if you really hate it??? Rip it out and start over!! No one ever needs to know. 🙂

Thanks Rachel, and Veronica, and other guest writers … this is a great place to come and visit every day! 🙂

Ms. Smith has provided some excellent advice: your finished piece IS much better than you think. Also, mistakes are not always your fault. I’ve had more than just a couple of patterns with botched instructions. We are human, mistakes occur. My older sister watched me rip out an entire round near the end of very large centerpiece. She shook her head and asked why on earth I was undoing hours of work. I told her I made a mistake at the very start of the round.
Her suggestion to me was one I live by now. “Kitty, leave the mistake, this makes your crochet work ‘an original’ peice of art.”

Ah, I actually thought I was the only one who felt this way! I follow the patterns step by step, word for word and my gauge is always so much larger than what the pattern suggested. Thank you for posting this. It’s nice to know i’m not alone. :]

Thanks for your words of wisdom! I recently crocheted an “Angel Baby” doll and it did not look like the photo in the pattern. I showed it to my husband and he said that it looked like me! I thought my mistakes resulted in me not crocheting the perfect doll but in the long run I got something that exhibited a big bit of me!

I have a new Grandbaby boy…I wanted to make him something special from GrammE…I started with a blanket very simple..came out pretty good with only a few mistakes…covered them up with a ruffle border…only I knew a few stitches were dropped every once in a while…my daughter now has me crocheting bibs, sweaters, booties, hats and she loves everything I make ..I know it’s not perfect but it is one of a kind made with love!!